AHURIRI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 590, 30 June 1858, Page 4

AHURIRI.

_ Our dates from Port Napier are up to the sth instant.

The " Hawke's Bay Herald" of that date acknowledges Auckland papers to the 21st ult — seven clays later than our own, but gives no're■??!t ° L? he Genera* Assembly later than the Jlth. Ihe only reference made to recent legislation will be found in the following extracts rrrom the same journal. ■ The Auckland papers are chiefly occupied 'with reports of the .General Assembly, which notwithstanding the paucity of members seems to be proceeding vigorously with the public At the latter meetings of the House ■■increasingly important measures wcreljeino-intro-■duoed amongst which may be enumerated a * Land Claims Amendment Bill," a bill to regulate the local .-affairs of native districts, and a "will to make better provision for the administration of justice in native districts. The budget rwas about to be produced. The "District '..Courts Bill" had passed the Legislative Council

and "been read a seaond time in the House of .Representatives. .The general intelligence is unimportant. ■■ Captain llaultain had been returned to the House of Representatives for the Southern Division of Auckland. He polled 453 votes; his; opponent, Mr. David Graham, 452. Messrs. Tizard Brothers have made the fol-' lowing proposal to the General Government, ■with reference to inter-provincial steam coniuiu- - nication: —" We would engage to construct one vessel of 60 tons burthen, fitted with auxiliary screw engines, to be ready to start from Auck- ■ laud in niue months from date. Both of the' estimated speed of 10 miles per hour. To perform the service for one year, viz_, each vessel' to make twelve voyages to the required ports within twelve months from her first departure for the sum of nine thousand pounds (£9,000), twenty-five per cent, to be paid during the construction of the steamers, and the balance in proportionate equal payments on each voyage performed.'" We observe "that the petition for separation from the inhabitants of Murihiku (the Bluff), was presented in the House of Representatives on the 11th of May, and simultaneously in the Legislative .Council by Mr. Menzies. On the 12th, in the Representative Chamber, Mr. Hall, j in moving that the petition be printed, made the s following observations:—

" This petition was of a very important character, coming as it did from a large and influential body of persons, occupying a district which, in the language of the petition, seemed formed by nature to become a separate province, and which, instead of being benefited, appeared rather to suffer by its connection with the Province of Qtago. Of course such a petition should receive the. careful consideration of the House—more especially as there would probably be others of a similar character; and to promote that object it was expedient that it should be printed, and thus placed in the hands of hon. members.

•The probable route of the Leviathan is thus sketched by Dr. Stratfoad. in a letter to the

'Southern Cross."'—"Starting from England she will take her course to the West Coast of Africa, call at the Cape of Good Hope, then seeking the Westerly passage wind in her course to Australia, calling at the ports along the Coast, she will arrive at Melbourne and Sydney. Again, taking her departure from Sydney, she will pass through Cook's Straits, calling at Wellington, New Zealand, gaining the Westerly passage wind, -will pass around Cape Horn, and in her homeward course will call at the ports on the East Coast of South America and the West Indies, finally arriving in England in about three months from her departure.